My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica

[ShayLover110]

Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica

Beautiful story so far, I can remember my first time to Jamaica i felt the same way Now every yr i do the countdown, right now i have 4 weeks and 5 days i cannot wait

[Tonya2]

Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica

Lovely writing style and your pictures are beautiful!! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Jacqui351]

Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica

We are going to Mayfield Falls today so after a quick breakfast we get our stuff together and head to the lobby to meet everyone. Imagine our surprise (yeah, right!) when we get there and find that Mark is not going. By this time I think Maureen is ready to strangle him for being such a dud and she is leaving his butt there all alone again. Lol

We had been talking to a staff member quite a bit since our arrival. I will call him Tony, just in case someone with any connections to his job should read this, I don’t want to get him in any trouble. We were talking to Tony about Mayfield and he said his brother drove a cab and he knew he would give us a good deal, so he borrowed my cell phone and called his brother, we’ll just say his name was Troy, and arranged everything for us and got us a good price. I was a bit leery about this but I figured if things didn’t seem right we could just say we changed our minds.

When Troy pulled up the first thing I noticed was the red tag, phew it was a registered cab. We all piled in and started out on our journey. Troy was the funniest guy I think I have ever met! He kept us laughing with stories about him and his brother and some of the crazy things they did as kids. His house was on the way to the Falls so we stopped there and met his wife and two darling little girls. You could tell his three ladies were the apple’s of his eye just by the way he looked at them. Troy’s wife was just as funny as him and we laughed until our stomachs hurt. After awhile it was time to get back on the road, I would have been happy to stay right where we were, but there were others to think of, so off we went.

The countryside that we passed was stunning. The deep greens of the grass and trees interspersed with a myriad of vibrant colored flowers provided the perfect contrast for the back drop of deep blue sky. I have to admit now to my biggest screw-up of the trip, I forgot to charge my camera battery and also left my spare battery in my camera case which was sitting on the table in my room. See what happens when your trying to minimize what you are carrying. Lol I am bummed that I have no pictures, but it just means we will have to come back and try it again! Lol

. As we were making the long walk down to the falls I couldn’t help but think that this trek was going to be a lot harder going back up to the van. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] Dang, I knew I should have done more treadmill sessions! Lol When we arrived at the falls there weren’t a lot of people there and it was pretty quiet. The first step into the water was a real eye-opener! That water was really cold. I remember standing there looking up the falls thinking there was no way I would be able to get all the way to the top while in the water that currently had my feet feeling like ice-cubes. Ok, I know I am exaggerating a bit, but it was pretty chilly. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] However, the water was feeling quite refreshing after we started climbing up the rocks and working up a sweat. I could tell that the water was down a good bit due to the drought, but it was deep enough to enjoy. Maureen and I didn’t swim under the rock, we were too afraid of getting stuck. Lol While everyone was playing around at one spot, I leaned back against the rocks, closed my eyes and let my other senses take over.. With the sun was shining brightly upon my closed lids and it’s warmth melting into my body, I could hear the sounds of the cascading water hurrying by on its quest to the sea and thought to myself that if this isn’t what heaven is like then it has got to be pretty close. Of course this couldn’t last forever because someone, probably John lol, thought I fell asleep and started splashing me and the splash war was on! I can just imagine what everyone was thinking upon seeing ten middle-aged adults screaming, laughing and splashing around like a bunch of kids, but it sure was fun! Lol

We finally continued on our climb and in no time we were at the top of the falls. The view from the top was absolutely breathtaking! I am so amazed at just how beautiful Jamaica is. With every new turn there is something that outshines the last. We stay there for a bit then start the trek back down to the bottom. I had assumed that since we were going down that it would be a lot easier. Boy was I wrong! Lol You really have to watch where you are stepping or you could find your self splayed across the path, like I did. Lol I didn’t get hurt but I know I turned every shade of pink/red in my embarrassment! Lol

Next thing I knew, we are at the base of the steps that go up to the parking area and boy did they look daunting! With every step I could feel my legs getting heavier and heavier calling out for mercy! Lol Every time I looked up to see how much further, it seemed like I hadn’t moved at all. I felt like I was on a down escalator while trying to go up! Lol After piling in the van, we headed back “home”.

[Laurel]

Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica

Sounds like one of those awesome & unforgetable days! What Joy!

[packerwmn]

Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica

Jacqui - I just started reading your trip report yesterday and you've done an excellent job so far! I have been away from Ja.com lately and have really enjoyed catching up with these reports. Thanks for sharing - waiting for more!!!

[packerwmn]

Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica

oops - double post....

[Marilyn]

Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica

JAC
GREAT job on Mayfield. WOuld you belive I ran those steps about 5 times? Down and up down and up, trying to burn off some caloreis. Sala just shook his head.

[ohliz]

Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica

I think your cliff place that wasn't Pirate's Cave might be The Sands?

If so, it's new and adjacent to The Caves, I believe also run by Island Outpost. Haven't been yet but heard about it.

[Siun]

Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica

Jacqui - great description of Mayfields! I almost bowed out of the trip after hearing bout those stairs but I was so glad I went - pure return to childhood fun!

Now I wanna see Marilyn run those stairs! do you have pics for proof lady? I was proud of only making Soloman and the girls wait about 5 minutes for me to catch up with them on top [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[Laurel]

Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica

I plan to get at least an hour head start when I do it ....

runnin them 5 times ... [img]/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

[Kateyez]

Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica

Jacqui, what an incredible experience! You're soooooo lucky. Wish I could be doing the same.. [sigh] What a beautiful account!

Kris [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Jacqui351]

Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica

Laurel - we had so much fun that it is really hard to put it into words. Thanks again for hanging in there with me! I'm afraid I would need at least 2 hours headstart to beat you and Marilyn!
packerwmn - Thank you so much. I am glad you are enjoying!
Marilyn - How in the h*&# did you run those stairs 5 times! I had trouble walking up them 1 time! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img] I am glad you are still here with me!!
Ohliz - You are right! The sands is a great place, very laid back but still alot of fun!
Thanks for reading!
Siun - I am glad I am not the only adult who acted like a kid! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img] Sounds like you had a much fun as I did!
Kris - I wish I could be there now also! Have to wait till next year. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[Jacqui351]

Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica

Marilyn - For you...

[Jacqui351]

Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica

The ride back home was uneventful and we were there in no time. After a short nap we went down to get dinner and meet up with everyone. Each night there are carved melons on the salad and dessert bars and tonight the chefs have outdone themselves! The intricate detail of the carvings is absolutely beautiful.

Tonight there is a beach party so after dinner we grabbed a few drinks and made our way to the beach to get good seats. We got there just in time because it wasn’t long before all of the seats were filled. The band was still setting up and it seemed that every employee was there, even the ones who were off for the night. Off to the right of the band was a Red Stripe beer cart. Alright! Red Stripe on tap!! I just love tap beer!! Of course I headed to that cart as soon as someone opened it up!! Lol

Today has been very hot and humid and even sitting in the shade on the beach there is no air moving at all. Looking out over the bay, it is so hazy that you can barely see either point. There is no distinct point at which the sea meets the sky. The band starts playing some Reggae tunes so my attention turns to them and some of the employees who are dancing in the sand.

The band introduces us to “Superman”, one of the employees said he was 84 years old, and said that he would be entertaining us with several different mediums tonight. The first thing that Superman did was to stand, hop, and sit and bounce on a board that was covered with nails. Next up was the fire-eating portion of the show. This man actually put a lit torch down the front of his pants!!! OUCH!! He then spread out a bunch of broken glass on a blanket and walked across it. He then started acting like he was taking a shower using the broken glass. He rubbed his face, arms and legs with the glass. Double Ouch!!! Lastly, he lay down on the glass, and employee placed the board, nail side down. Then went into the audience and brought out a girl and had her stand on the nail board and start dancing! Now, Superman was very short and thin, and it looked like this young girl would break him in half if she stepped on him, let alone dance! I know that wasn’t true because he was a muscular as a man half his age. He did at one point act like he was hurt until she started to get really upset, then he looked up at her and gave her a big smile. When he did this, the look on her face had me thinking for a minute that this was going to get ugly! However, through her tears she started laughing hysterically. It was the type of deep belly laugh that comes after good scare! She then started to give him some well-deserved [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] “play” punches just before she got a huge hug from him that lifted her off the ground. That concluded his show and Superman trotted off with the spryness of a teenager, and a huge smile on his face! It was easy to see that he loved entertaining people with his extrodinary skills. I can only dream that I will be that active when I reach his age.

Just before Superman’s show was finished a light, misty drizzle had started to fall. It was just enough to cool us a bit and make some beautiful rainbows at each light. Since it wasn’t bad, the band started to play but, it was short lived. They were about ½ way through their first song when the heavens opened up and had everyone running for cover, except John and I. We didn’t bother to get up from our lounge chair. For one thing, we were already soaked and secondly we both love to be out in the rain (without lightning and thunder [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] )and this had to be the warmest rain I have ever felt. So we sat there, probably looking like fools lol, enjoying the warm rain as it cleansed the earth and nourished the surrounding plants and trees.

Eventually we made our way back toward our room. We had to pass the Gazebo on our way and not wanting this night to end just yet, we decided to stop there for awhile and sat in quiet contemplation of our last night of vacation. John didn’t notice the tears that I silently shed in joy and pain. The pain was for knowing that our time in paradise was nearly over, but more importantly, the joy of knowing that after 20 years of marriage, we had fallen in love all over again. Sitting in that gazebo, we decided that there will definitely be many return trips to “our paradise”.

[Jacqui351]

Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica

Superman!!